Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee who is also Beluran member of parliament said the burden of proof lay with Nur Misuari (pic). — AFP pic

SANDAKAN, Nov 4 — Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chairman Nur Misuari has been urged to prove his allegation that Malaysian leaders were involved in the kidnapping incident at Pulau Sipadan, Semporna in 2000.

Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee who is also Beluran member of parliament said the burden of proof lay with Nur Misuari.

“Malaysians in Sabah would surely want to know who the mastermind was behind the ‘kidnap-for-ransom’.

“The incident had haunted the people in Sabah for so long. Hopefully he is not making the allegation because of his contempt for Malaysia as he had indicated in the media conference,” he told Bernama, today. Misuari made the allegation in a media conference recently after meeting with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in Manila.

Meanwhile, Kinabatangan member of parliament Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin said he was not surprised by Nur Misuari’s accusation as he had heard conversations at five-foot-ways and coffeeshops on a similar topic. The Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club deputy chairman said if the allegation had basis, the authorities must act to prevent further incidents. — Bernama